Maltese MEPs endorse diabetes declaration

The European Parliament has adopted a written declaration on diabetes urging the Commission and Council to prioritise diabetes in EU health policy and to encourage member states to develop national diabetes plans.

The declaration, signed by 415 MEPs, including all five Maltese MEPs, will now be communicated to the other EU institutions by the end of April for further action.

During a press conference in Brussels yesterday, British MEP John Bowis, chairman of the European Parliament's diabetes working group, and a diabetic himself, said the declaration calls on the Commission and the Council to develop an EU diabetes strategy on the basis of an EU Council recommendation on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and control.

The declaration was welcomed by the International Diabetes Federation and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes. Representatives of the two organisations said such a high level of support for a written declaration is rare and highlights the acute awareness and the cross-party, cross-national consensus on the need for urgent action on the growing diabetes problem in Europe. They said that taking action to address a major cause of premature death, significant morbidity and reduced quality of life represents an important factor in building public support across the European Union.

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in Europe. Over 25 million people in the EU are affected by this chronic disease which can often lead to serious and costly complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Furthermore, 50 per cent of people with diabetes are thought to be living with the condition although unaware and undiagnosed. It is estimated that the number of people affected by diabetes could rise by up to 16 per cent by 2025.

Overall, according to the World Health Organisation, direct healthcare costs in connection with diabetes range from 2.5 to 15 per cent of annual healthcare budgets, depending on local diabetes prevalence and the level of treatment and care available.